“For God hath not given us a spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7 KJV). These were Paul’s inspired words to a preacher who, no doubt, was facing some fearful times. Paul was imprisoned for a second time, which imprisonment would result in his death, when he wrote his second letter to Timothy. Can you imagine the fear that must have passed through Timothy as he considered his mentor and “father” in the faith, Paul, no longer being there on whom to lean? Timothy was most likely filled with apprehension, anxiety and doubt. Paul’s words were sent to Timothy to remind him that God does not want His children to live in fear. Fear is a crippling, debilitating, spiritual disease that can overcome and control us. There are numerous things that fear brings about, none of which are good for the Christian and his work for God.
Fear is a prison. When Adam and Eve sinned against God, they were fearful and hid themselves from Him (Genesis 3:8). Fear becomes a prison where people work diligently to hide from everyone, especially from God. Fear becomes a prison wherein we hide, trying to avoid anyone and everyone. Fear will immobilize us to our full potential and keep us from growing. A person who is fearful seldom attempts to do anything outside his comfort zone because he is locked up in a prison of allowing fear to control and contain him. If we allow it, fear will enslave us to our own little thinking (little box mentality), and we can never reach our full potential. Are you enslaved to fear?
Fear causes a loss of perspective. Have you ever tried to walk on a balance beam? As long as you focus on the beam and not on the ground below, most people can walk a straight line. However, when a person becomes fearful and loses perspective, falling is almost a guarantee! Why? Fear pulls our focus and perspective off course. Can you imagine how successful Noah would have been in building the ark if fear were present? Instead of fearing the pending flood and the tragic results of that flood, Noah kept his perspective on the task at hand. Noah kept his perspective and was saved. Peter began to sink when he lost perspective due to the fear of the winds and the waves (Matthew 14:30)! Peter lost perspective and almost perished! When fear is present, our perspective is skewed, and doom is certain!
Fear causes us to forget God’s promises. When Jesus was crucified and buried, fear caused the disciples to forget that Jesus promised that He would rise again on the third day (Matthew 16:21), and thus, they scattered and hid themselves. Fear caused them to have spiritual amnesia. When fear is present in our lives, we forget that God has promised great and wonderful things to His children. When the world seems to be against us, do not fear but remember, “If God be for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31; cf., Matthew 10:28). When we fear and feel as though we are all alone, remember the promise of God, “…I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5b; cf. Matthew 28:20; Joshua 1:5). Certainly, when fear begins to control our future, remember, “There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God” (Hebrews 4:9).
Fear is the great paralyzer of the church and the individual Christian alike! Dear Friends, if we operate in fear, we can never reach our full potential in the service of God. Faith, not fear, is what moves mountains. There will always be obstacles and uncertainties that can result in fear in our work for the Lord, but may we ever strive to replace that fear with faith, because truly, “God hath not given us a spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7).
